The OPTIMASH project aims to optimise the efficiency and reliability of gasifiers fuelled with high-ash content coals. High Pressure Circulating Fluidized Bed gasifiers are the target technology. The objective of this 4 years project is to develop a pilot gasifier capable of producing a syngas flow at 10 bars suitable for 1MWth. The gasification characteristics of high ash content coal will be investigated using pressurized Drop Tube Furnace facilities and accompanying measurement instruments. Coal gasification models will be developed taking into account the relevant chemical kinetics. In parallel, coal beneficiation and preparation studies will be conducted experimentally; the results will be modelled for their generalization.The 1 MWth pilot-scale plant will be modelled and numerically simulated using relevant CFD codes. The computations will be validated with data coming from the pilot-plant. The global IGCC system using the developed gasifier will be modelled using existing energy and mass balance soft-wares. Commercial scale design criteria will be developed taking into account pressure and geometric scaling.Indian high ash coals are the main target of the project. To insure the fuel flexibility of the developed process, Turkish high ash coals will also be studied and their characteristics used in the modelling of the process.The project will allow optimizing the global efficiency of the gasification technology for high ash coal by minimizing the steam use, optimising particle size vs residence time, developing particle agglomeration avoidance strategies, investigating corrosion risks, increasing fuel flexibility, developing efficient ash disposal system and testing different technologies for gas cooling, tar and fly ash removal. The consortium comprises a major industrial partner and a major research institute from India, together with two major research organisms from Netherlands and France, the Turkish Coal Enterprises and one Turkish university.